Product Review!

This is exciting stuff right now! Well, at least I'm excited haha

I'm a member of Klout.com which is this great site that tracks how influential you are. It is based on the activity of your social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, YouTube, and a lot more. Your influence is shown as a number that can fluctuate from day to day. I'm currently at 41 which isn't too shabby. It gets increasingly harder to get higher scores though.

One of the great things about this site is that it offers perks for members. Based on how much "Klout" you have you can be eligible for different perks. So I'm going to review a perk that I just received!

I saw that I was eligible to try Lipton's new Tea & Honey drink mix. It is one of those powders you can throw in your water bottle and go. Now, I've tried those sorts of drinks before and I usually hate them, but this is soooo good!

The flavor I got is Mango Pineapple, which I was hesitant about but I'm glad I tried it. It is a green tea which is a plus because it's so good for you. What impressed me though was how many samples I got, which was 10. That is a whole box worth. Plus you get a $.50 coupon to use for any boxes you might with each sample. That's essentially $5 off. Awesome.

The only thing I was bummed with is that all 10 samples were the same flavor, and they sell 6 different flavors. They have the Mango Pineapple Iced Green Tea, Lemon Iced Black Tea, Peach Apricot Iced Black Tea, Blackberry Pomegranate Iced Green Tea, Strawberry Acai Decaf Green Tea, and the one I want to try most - Black Currant Raspberry Iced Black Tea.

They also sell some of the flavors in pitcher packet size which is great for parties. I really like the tea and honey idea, it tastes great. I really think this was a great perk.

Obviously the higher your score the better the perks will be. I honestly think you just had to have a score of one or more to get this, but hey who doesn't love free stuff? It is a great incentive to try and get more Klout.

I'll be reviewing another perk I just opted in for soon!


Disclosure:
I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I am under no obligation to receieve the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Sephora + Pantone Universe

So if you've been in a Sephora lately, then you know about the Sephora/Pantone partnership that has resulted in a line of products celebrating the color of the year: Tangerine Tango. There are make-up brushes, eye shadows, blush, lip colors, and nail polish.

Well get ready because they just one-upped that whole line. They have come out with an eyeshadow palette called the Shades of Nature Eye Shadow Palette.

Is that not gorgeous?!? Well, I bought mine and just received it and I'm in love. First off the packaging comes off very Apple-esque. White box, white palette, and it is so pretty!

The packaging is perfect. The weight isn't too heavy and I don't feel like it is so light I'll just toss it. The closure is magnetic, not a strong one so be careful if you travel with this. I would put a rubber band around it just in case.

The colors are to die for, the range is so perfect and the color pay off is more than I expected. What I like is there are a few shades of each color, a few greens, a few purples, etc. What is awesome, is they put a plastic cover in that has all of the color's Pantone numbers. Very clever.

I did a few swatches above and they are so pigmented! What is probably the most attractive thing is that there are matte and shimmer colors, neutral and bright color. However, the bright colors are colors that anyone could really pull off; even if you just used them as eyeliners!

I am so incredibly happy I got this palette, it is like the only thing I need now for eye shadows!

Sephora $55.00

Friday Favorites

I hope you all have a great weekend! Shaun and I are doing something different and going to see A Midsummer's Night Dream in NYC! My favorite actress, Bebe Neuwirth is in it and Sunday is their last performance! It looks amazing with the set and costumes!

The whole back of the stage is a mirror!

Some favorites of mine for you to explore:

This website made me laugh so much - www.drinkify.org
You type in what music you are listening to and it gives you a drink and its' recipe to go with it. There is everything from Justin Bieber to Aerosmith on there.

 

Can you guess what those are ^? They are Nutella shots! The name alone sounds so yummy and I am dying to find out how you make them. I love me some Nutella. (Picture from Pintrest)

 

That beautiful piece of art up there is the Sephora + Pantone Universe Shades of Nature Eye Shadow Palette. I was kind of upset the other night and while I was looking in my e-mails, one from Sephora saying this was available for beauty insiders first, came up. So naturally, I bought it in my attempt to cheer myself up. I didn't even think, I just clicked buttons, but I'm glad I did because this thing is beautiful. Also, Sephora's eyeshadows (from their brand name line) are gorgeous and are really well formulated and pigmented. At $55.00 this is a total steal!

I bought this dress today from H&M for only $12.95! It's more of a blush color than a cream color but it is so cute. I'm going to NYC on Tuesday to be trained for an internship I'll be starting soon and I think with my black blazer over it and some nice shoes, it will look awesome!

Finally, this dress I also got from H&M and it is gorgeous. I am totally in love, and now I just need to find somewhere to wear it to! It was $24.95, and so worth it.

Friday Thoughts

My week has been pretty up and down and that is not always a great feeling. I'd much rather have a week full of consistency, but alas, things do happen.

I have come to find that one of my better thinking spots is my car. Today while I was driving the title of my blog popped into my head. I thought about what it meant to me, why I chose it, and how others could be influenced by it. Some Blissful Chaos. Most would probably say it contradicts itself. I however, think differently.

In our lives, we need to have chaos. It is a natural part of going through our days, months, and years. Chaos will occur at the most inopportune times, but we should be more welcoming to it. Without chaos, we can't know bliss. We can't know serenity and the happiness that comes with it. Bliss means many different things to people. Some people find bliss in the activities they do, some feel it associated with emotions, and it is important to figure out what bring you bliss.

I usually associate it with love and safety. Love is very encompassing it makes me feel safe, happy, warm, and appreciated. Love comes from many places: family, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, and even our pets. I know that my little Charlie bear always brings me that feeling, in the tiniest of ways!

So we should really start to embrace the chaos, and not become so wound up about it. Of course there will always be days when it gets to much. Just don't let it stop you from trying to experience the good and happiness in your days. Don't let it stop you from reaching a goal, finishing a project, or even telling someone that you love them. Remember, without chaos we wouldn't know bliss.

Hair of the day!

Yes, that's my crazy face up there but I just wanted to share my hair from earlier. I braided on each side of my part and stopped half way. Then I took those two pieces and did my hair half up half down. It's hard to tell but you get the idea.

Plus I think I look ridiculous (and cute ;] ) and I wanted to share it with you!

Super Quick Haul!

Hey hey everyone! So today I got to see my best friend Sarah! She just graduated from college and she got back into town like a few days ago. We went out and got a few drinks and I ate (because when am I not hungry? haha), and then we went around the mall and we bought a few things!

First from Sephora....

 The Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion. Oh my goodness, can I just say this is the most pigmented black liner I've ever seen. A lot of times other liners will dry a grey/black, but this was perfection. The other thing I love about this is, when they say waterproof...they mean waterproof. That sucker was not going anywhere!

Then I also picked up Stila's Smudge Crayon in Antique. Sadly this picture does no justice to the color. It comes off more gold, but it has much more pink in the color too. It honestly looks like rose gold in cream shadow form. It is gorgeous!

 Then, I was with my mom in Sephora a while ago and I had remembered there was a self-adjusting product she wanted to try but there were none left. Well, I picked up the Stila Custom Color Blush in Sheer Pink. When I got home though, she reminded me that she was looking at the Dior Addict Lip Glow, that adjusts to your skin tone. Oops! Well, she's still going to try the blush and I hope she likes it! I can always do an exchange though :)

< This!


Not this! >










We also stopped in H&M for a while and I bought two shirts. I'm not sure if I'm keeping the blue one, because I saw a shirt in another store I loved, but we'll see! The button down is really soft, I'm just worried if it will hold up in the wash or not. The blue blouse is sheer which I love but I don't know if I'm in love with the pattern. I'm thinking of wearing it tomorrow, so maybe I'll do an outfit of the day!?

Currently Reading: May

I thought I would do something a little different and do a post about what I am reading this month. I am one of those people who can read two different books at the same time. I don't know why but it doesn't seem to confuse me. Although if it is a really good book or a more difficult book to read, I'll stick with one.

This month I have been reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky. Truthfully, I started the Happiness Project in April and I just started Inside Apple today.
I am really enjoying both books though; they are subjects I hadn't ever planned on reading about.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin started with a bus ride and a Aha! moment. She wanted to test different aspects of life and see how and why they made her happy, and ultimately if they could make her happier. She sets up a year long project and assigns different aspects like fun, money, friends, and love to each month.

It is a pretty genius idea, and it has branched off into her offering templates and plans on how to do your own project. At 22, I don't really think I'm ready to tackle such a big thing. I'm still figuring out what makes me happy in the first place, I don't really want to start questioning it, but the book has given me some great ways to improve my mood.

Ms. Rubin does a lot of research so it isn't just hearsay, there is an actual basis for everything she is doing within her project.

Today, I started Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky and I'm pretty impressed almost 3 chapters in. It is not a look into Steve Jobs so much as it is a look into what Apple as a company has done to run as a business and how those tactics have made them so successful. We get a great look into the atmosphere of the employees and the headquarters. We do see a lot of Steve Jobs and how he made choices and how he truly decided to run Apple, but the book delves into so much more.

Like I said, I'm only 3 chapters in but I think it will be pretty amazing to see inside a company that has more money than our country.

What are you guys reading? I have such a large pile of books to still read and an even bigger list on Barnes and Noble that I've yet to buy!

[Pictures from Barnes and Noble's website - bn.com]

Random 5.12

Come out, come out, where ever you are.
Let me see the real you.
Are there cracks on that tough exterior?
Can I break through?

Don't be afraid, don't be scared
To let me see how you really feel
To show me how you feel about me
Let your heart be the one I steal

It is never easy to break down those walls
But if you trust me, let them fall.
The hurt you're afraid of is real
I know this because I've been there.

I won't hurt you, I don't want to
I just want to see what is true
If there is love between us
If there is love in you.

FOTN: Olive Sparkle

Just wanted to share my "face of the night" with you guys :)

I think I'm going out to have drinks with the boyfriend tonight so I wanted to look extra pretty.

It's a really subtle smokey eye with a metal taupe brown and pink. I lined my upper lash line with olive green liner and winged it out and used black liner on my lower lash line. On my lashes I used a brown mascara. Finally, I filled in my brows.

On my face, I used a BB cream all over, and some concealer under my eyes. I used Korres contouring powder in Mykonos. It has a bronzer strip, a blush strip, and an all over color strip. You can read more and see it here.

I used that pretty much all over and then used Bobbi Brown's shimmer block in Rose Gold on my cheeks.



Products used:
Eyeshadow: Sephora's 4 shadows and liner palette in "brunette eyes No. 08" = used Retro Powderpuff (pink) all over the lid and Marie in the crease along with the dark grey liner in the crease.

Eyeliner: Stila's Waterproof liquid eyeliner in Flash for the upper lash line and Urban Decay's Zero (black) for the lower lash line.

Mascara: Covergirl Natureluxe mousse mascara in brown

Brows: Sephora Rectractable Brow Pencil in No. 4 Midnight Brown

Face: Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream

Concealer: Benefit's Erase Paste in No. 2

Face Powder/Contouring: Korres Magic Light Face Contouring Powder Trio in Mykonos

Blush: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Block in Rose Gold

May Birchbox!

It is May Birchbox time! It was really interesting seeing a black box come in the mail yesterday, and when I opened it I discovered that it was a Gossip Girl Birchbox! I haven't really stayed too up to date on the show but I do love me some GG!

First item that stuck out to me was the Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream. I adore BB creams for the most part, with the exception of that one bad run in with the Garnier one. However, I've been eying this one for a while so I was excited.

Sadly, I have a MAJOR gripe about this. The sample isn't huge but I wasn't too heartbroken. I've tried it for two days and there is literally nothing left. You would think they'd actually fill the tube but no such luck. If I want to maybe get one more use, I'm going to have to take scissors to the top of the tube.

This is the brand's fault, not Birchbox. They don't manufacture the products, but Birchbox should be aware of this.  Anyways, I wasn't impressed the first time I used it, I didn't think it covered very well. But I used a little more today and I am pleasantly surprised. It feels nice, it isn't a grey or orange color, so it blends so nice.

Next up, is probably my favorite product: the Stila sparkle waterproof liquid eyeliner! It is a full size product first off, and I love it! It is this olive green that is so gorgeous and it has glitter in it but let me tell you; that glitter will not budge! The color is called Flash and I'm so in love. I literally had to scrape the swatch off my hand, it has amazing staying power. The applicator is awesome too, practically fool proof!

Then in the box was a twistband, which I think is great because I can never have enough hair ties. I always find myself needing to throw my hair up. I bought a pack of them from Sephora and I love them!

I was happy to see this next product - Ojon volume advance Volumizing Conditioner. I haven't really been using conditioner for the last few weeks. So it was probably due time for me to start again :) I used it today and my hair feels pretty soft and a little more light. It feels a little oily so I'm not sure if that is just me or if it is the product. I'll try it some more and see.

The last product was a fragrance by BVLGARI called Omnia Crystalline. The name confuses me, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me as a fragrance name but it doesn't matter because this smells so good! The description says it is notes of lotus flowers, bamboo and Nashi pear. I really like this, I might be tempted to pick it up in Sephora!

Lastly, the extra in the box was a notecard that you could use. It came in a bright pink envelope and it's pretty cute.

 Pretty successful box this month. I'm looking forward to watching the Birchbox videos on youtube to see if people got anything different, or just a regular box instead of the Gossip Girl one!

*Swoon*

So I just saw this video on Tumblr and I'm dying...just dead. It's Jeremy Renner (from the Avengers and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) singing New York State of Mind on Jimmy Fallon's show. He's become the new love of my life haha

I can't find the video on YouTube so here's the link to my re-post of it on Tumblr. Enjoy


http://jensmerg.tumblr.com/post/22637047416/tyleroakley-jeremy-renner-singing-new-york

Growing up too fast

     After working with kids who are in elementary and middle school for as long as I have, you learn a lot about their interpretation of different things. One in particular that always strikes me is the interpretation of being an adult. They see it as an amazing and fun time where they have complete and utter freedom. They can do anything they want, spend money on what they want, and not be told what to do.

     I laugh, because me and my friends thought the same way. There was nothing more we wanted than to be older and not be looked down on. That was and is still an issue, adults treating kids only like kids. Sometimes, it seems easier and increasingly helpful to both parties, to treat kids like they are a bit more grown up. They don't want to focus on the big disconnect there is between your age and theirs. If they feel more on your level, they will most likely be willing to cooperate.

     The truth is, while I didn't believe it when I was young, is that you never want to grow up too fast. Being an adult, even a young adult, has been stressful. We all go through different events in our lives that may change the description of what being an adult is like. However, it doesn't mean we can't all feel similar things. Sure, when you're older you get to drive a car. But you also have to start thinking about how to pay for that car, the insurance, accidents, and paying for gas. There is nothing more earth-shattering than you're first car accident, but you don't want to say that to a new driver and scare them half to death.

     Another thing kids cannot seem to wait for is the romance that will supposedly find them. Let me tell you, I believe that the best is yet to come for me and I'm 22. That doesn't mean I haven't been in love, but when you are young things are so distorted. You truly believe that every guy you date needs to be a gentleman, or say sweet nothings in your ear. Or hold your hand 24/7. Those things are nice but trying to change someone into that will never work. Those gestures are always more special when not done constantly.
   
      I have seen girls act the most immature they ever have, simply over a boyfriend. It is scary. But these kids don't realize the heartbreak they will have to go through first, and they'll think they are the only ones. There isn't anything we can do to protect them. Just be there and support them. They will fall in love with love, and only time will change that.

     I know that children do not understand how difficult it can be in college or how hard it is to get a job, but it won't get any easier. At least the way our education system and economy are going. I don't even really have major bills to pay, and I still never have enough money. I am trying to graduate in December and I need to pile on 4 Summer classes and 5 class in the Fall, in order to do so. Plus, then comes the intense worry about paying off the loans I had to take out to pay for my entire education. No one will hire a college grad with no experience, but no one will give us a chance to get that experience and that is where we are stuck. Taking unpaid internships that are full time and trying to work a petty part-time job just so we can commute to our internships. It is one of the most frustrating things about being my age right now.

     Yes, at 22 I can go drive around, hang out with whoever, drink, buy scratch offs and more. But none of that really makes me happy. I'd rather stay in and watch a movie with my boyfriend, then trek out to a club and get drunk and lose my hearing and my voice because the music is so loud. I like driving but not enough to do it just for the heck of it, it is expensive to pay for gas. There is more freedom with growing up but the responsibilities pile up right with it. Believe it or not, I also believe our moral compasses kick in and being wild and crazy becomes less and less novel with time.

     What they don't realize is that soon enough they'll be in our position wishing for the times of being little and always being taken care of.

Sephora Haul 5.4.2012

So I have fallen victim to my obsession once again :) I headed to Sephora with my mom because she wanted to find some things for my cousin's wedding. She really doesn't wear make-up so there was a lot of testing.

I of course ended up buying a bunch of things. I had a specific idea of a few things I needed and then stuff I wanted. While I didn't love how much I spent, it could have been like three times worse!

First I knew I wanted a new cleanser because I am pretty much out of the ones I have at home. I did a lot of studying and reading of the reviews and I decided to try the Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk. I put it in my shower already so here's a picture of it from Sephora's website:

Second, I knew I wanted a new foundation, and I also wanted it to be a natural one. Choices get limited when it comes to natural make-up lines it really is either Tarte, Korres, or Josie Maran. The thing is most of it is powder and my skin doesn't love powder foundations. So I picked up Josie Maran's Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation.
(Pics go from left to right)

This next product I am totally in love with. It is the Korres Magic Light Face Contouring Powder Trio in Santorini. They have one that is more pink and it called Mykonos, which is pretty too. This is an amazing powder and you can use each color separately like the box tells you or swirl it together. I love it both ways.

 Then I had heard about Jack Black's lip balm from a girl on YouTube (LegallyBrunette214) and I really have a weakness for lip balm so I knew it was going to happen. I chose Vanilla Lavender and the smell is heaven!

Next is a Sephora eyeshadow palette. I wanted some nice purple shadows because that color goes amazing with brown eyes and I picked this up:

 I adore the 2nd and 3rd colors that are swatched on my hand. They are so pretty paired together and go really well with the purple shades too.

The last product I bought was one I was intent on getting since it came out: The Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial. I've been using their Wild Rose moisturizer and mask for a long time so I knew right away I'd want to try this. I will probably do a review on it, to let you know if I think it works.

Lastly, I had enough points at the checkout for a 500 point perk with my Beauty Insider card. So I got the Too Faced Naked Look palette with 2 eye-shadows, a blush, and two lip glosses. the eye shadows are amazing I'm wearing them right now and they are the perfect neutral colors. I love the darker taupe one. The "blush", it is really a shimmer veil" is nice and it will be a good highlight. Sadly, I hate the lip glosses. One of them when I went to try it (the air kiss one) was soft and sticky and my finger sank right into it. The other one is nice but has no real color to it.

Sorry this post was so long but I hope you enjoyed!